Family, friends struggle to comprehend ‘unbelievable’ tragedy

‘NO GOOD ADJECTIVE’: Former Abington Marine Brian Cherry died Sunday after allegedly being punched by Michael J. McGunigle, not pictured, who is charged with aggravated assault.

A former Abington Marine who succumbed to brain injuries after allegedly being sucker-punched last week in a dispute over a barking dog was remembered yesterday as a loving and caring dad who was just trying to keep the peace.

“The only place that benefits is heaven because it is a better place with him there,” said Nora Kertanis, whose brother, Brian Cherry, 48, died Sunday from injuries he sustained on July 6 when he was allegedly attacked in an Abington coffee shop parking lot.

Michael J. McGunigle, 49, of Abington is accused of punching Cherry in the head after the ex-Marine suggested his alleged attacker better train his dog, officials said. The animal was in a car, allegedly menacing passers-by.

McGunigle was arraigned on an aggravated assault charge last week in Brockton District Court and was freed on $3,000 bail. Prosecutors are awaiting the results of an autopsy to decide whether to levy more serious charges, said a spokeswoman for Plymouth District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz.

Cherry was employed by the Hingham-based McCusker-Gill Inc., and was a member of the Sheet Metal Workers Local 17. He is survived by his wife, Donna, and son, Brian Jr., who is a student at Framingham State College.

“I try to wrap my head around it and come up with some words, and it’s unbelieveable. There’s no good adjective to describe what happened, and the pain that you’re feeling is terrible,” said Gene Dodd, a project manager at McCusker-Gill.

Dodd, 36, credits Brian and Donna Cherry for introducing him to his wife, Kim, more than 10 years ago. He visited Cherry at Massachusetts General Hospital twice last week.

“It’s tough to see your friend like that,” Dodd said. “You never forget those images. On the lighter side, to see Donna comforting him and hugging him and kissing him, it made a bad time feel good.”